The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-13
The Gathering of the, Saints:

The Gathering OF the Saints.
The circumstances of the family Of tho
redeemed have made it. impossible that
they should ever yet be- assembled to-
gether at their fathers home: But man.
sions are now being prepared for them;
and the time is fixed when, there shall
be final gathering of all the children
of God. The hope OF this gathering is
most powerful in its present influence
upon their feelings, and conduct. The
solemn appeal Of the Apostle to' the
Thessalonians, "I' beseech you, breth-
rem, by the coming Of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and by ousr gathering together
unto Him." shows that whatever mis-
takes were entertained in connection with
the Lords advent, this, at least, was well
understood and greatly desired. Nor
can we wonder, fory besides more gen.
eral reasons connected' with the Lords
glory and the salvation, Of the. whole
family, there are some special reasons
which greatly tend TO- brighten and
strengthen this blessed hope Perfee-
tion Will characterize that gathering.
The education of the saints will be per-
fected. They are attschoel in this pres
ent world, and have often hard and diff
fcult lessons to learn, the end and de-
sign of which they cannot always see.
But while learning them they are nm
consciously gaining knowledge and
experience and habits, which fit them
t, glorify God in. the enjoyment of
their future Inheritance: The time sp-
pointed of the Father will have to
come. They shall no longer be under
tutors and governors; their education
will be finished. The character and
graces of the saints will be perfected.
Who ever saw a. perfect character on
earth, except in; the person of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christi Abra-
ham gave way to unbelief, Moses to
passion, Job to impatienee. Indeed, it
is common remark that the most emil
nent saints have failed in that particu-
lar, for which, on the whole, they were
the most distinguished. The weeds of
corruption in the heart ssifle the graces
of the Spirit, and the climate of this
world does not favor their full develop
ment. Bet then all will be perfect;
Avery saint will have perfect JOY, per-
feet peace, perfect gentleness, perfect
goodness, perfect meekness. Who that
mourns over present imperfections does
not long for this blessed perioda Truly
may each then exclaim: '.Let my
beloved come into his garden and
eat his pleasant fruits.'' Union
will characterize that gathering.
Then truly will the children of God that
are now scattered abroad be gathered
together in one. There is union among
Gods children now; but it is union
which is not openly manifested, a1d
which seems often greatly interrupted.
But when the saints are perfected, and
the different members of the mystical
body fitted for their respective place
are brought together, 'the perfect
man" shall be exhibited, and all come
into the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God. Then
will the. saviour's prayer be fulfilled:
"That they all may be one; as Thou,
Father, art in Ne, and I in Thee, that
they also may be ono in
Us; that the world may be-
lieve that Thou hast sent Me-" It is well
to strive after the realization OF this
prayer by all lawful and fitting means
even now. Tho nearer VIC approach to
its realization the more wo shall glorify
God. But why should we be surprised
that our eyes do not yet behold ita 1t
Is the union in glory for which our Saw
iour prays; evidently so from what our
Lord adds in tho next verse; "And the
glory which Thou gavest Me 1 have CIV
en- them; that they may be one, even az
We are one; in them and Thou in Me,
that they may he made perfect in one.'
NV. Cadman.
Only ninety-ftc yesrs have passed
since the first English missionary went
out to carry tho gospel to the heather,
and to day there are christian COM
munisies more than three million strong,
led by two thousand FIVE hundred min
isters of their own speech" In India
alone, says writer in The Quarterly
Review, the last census showed nearly
two million Christians.
Speaking of prohibition in Atlanta, Ga,
the Rev. W. Z. Tarpley, of that city, says:
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